For Callie Cardin, this slow-pitch season was supposed to be the capstone of an impressive high school softball career. A four-year starter in fast-pitch and slow-pitch, she was one of the leaders in a group of seniors that had revived the Lady Redskins’ program. A power-hitting infielder with keenly honed instincts for the game, she was one of four McLoud seniors who’d been recruited to play college ball.
Back-to-back trips to the state tournament behind them and the core of last year’s team returning, the Lady Redskins looked like one of the favorites to bring home the state championship plaque.
Then, within a day, it all evaporated.
“We were playing at the Lexington tournament and had a game in the morning,” she said. “We couldn’t go to McLoud, because we couldn’t come back, so we played another game and then another.
“We were all kind of worried, but we were talking about it, saying it could be our last game.”
The last game was a bummer, a 21-10 thumping by Lexington that put the Lady Redskins’ record at 6-2 and was hardly a fitting way for the season - and the seniors’ careers - to end.
“I think we’re all a little devastated,” Callie said. “We’re all super sad it ended, no doubt. We were hoping to win it this year.
“But we have to realize the big picture. Softball is my love, but there is more to it.”
Now that the season is over and she has several months to go before her college career starts, Callie is filling her time by running and “looking up crafts to do online.”